NCAA Football Pre-Season Predictions 10-6

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#10 Wisconsin

Wisconsin will have a very solid team in 2008.  They are led offensively by RB P.J. Hill and TE Travis Beckum.  They also have a tremendous offensive line and that is good for whatever young QB they decide to go with.  Wisconsin QBs are game managers so if Hill has a big year and the line stays healthy than the offense should be very efficient.  The defense is not as strong as the offense but they do have some big playmakers.  DE Matt Shaughnessy, LB Jonathan Casillas and S Shane Carter will be counted on to be the leaders on this team.  The Badgers also have one other thing working for them and that is Camp Randall.  It has become one of the more difficult places to play in all of college football and this season Wisconsin gets to play Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State at home.  9-3

#9 Missouri

 

Missouri is a very talented team and should make it to the BCS in 2008.  They are led by QB and Heismann hopeful Chase Daniel.  The team is loaded at WR led by Sophomore Jeremy Maclin.  The only possible weakness is at running back and it isn’t so much weakness as it is lack of experience.  Tailback Jimmy Jackson should do fine.  Not to be out done, the defense isn’t flashy but it is very talented.  Ziggy Hood and Sean Weatherspoon should abuse opposing running backs and QBs.  Missouri does have a unique opportunity to run the table and play for a national title because they don’t play Oklahoma this season.  However, they do have a few tough games like the Illini at the RCA to open the season, at Texas in the middle of the season and they wrap up against Kansas in Kansas City.  10-2

#8 Auburn

Auburn is another very talented team that should be playing in the BCS this season.  Offensively they have the youngest, most talented line in football.  RBs Ben Tate and Brad Lester should be a very effective two-headed monster behind that line.  Defensively they lost Quentin Groves and a slew of others to the NFL so the younger kids will have to step up.  Not too mention they will have to step it up under a new coordinator because Muschamp left for Texas in the off season.  Lucky for the Tigers they don’t have to play Florida this season but they do have to go to West Virginia in the middle of the season and play Georgia at the tale end.  10-2

#7 Clemson

The Clemson Tigers are back in the National Title picture.  First off RBs Davis and Spiller might be the best one-two punch in the country.  The Tigers have some inexperience on the offensive line but these two kids should have big years.  I look for QB Cullen Harper to step up and have a huge year, possibly garnering Heismann votes with a couple of big time victories.  The defense should be fantastic.  They have 8 returning starters for a defense that only gave up 18 points per game.  The mid-season road trip versus bowl bound teams Wake Forest, Florida State and Boston College will be a real test.  If they can run the table on that trip they may be in the title hunt.  10-2

#6 USC

You can’t talk BCS and not include the Trojans.  However, this season will not be a walk for the Trojans.  They should continue to have one of the better defenses in college football.  Linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga are back and Maualuga had a more productive season last year than Keith Rivers, who was a top ten draft pick.  They are a little inexperienced on the interior defensive line but they are very deep in defensive talent.  Offensively they have a lot of questions.  They have no idea what QB Mark Sanchez can do and Mitch Mustain, the Arkansas transfer behind Mark, could push him for playing time if he struggles early.  Look for USC to run more than ever this season and with RBs Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson, why wouldn’t you.  The schedule is as tough as it comes and they are bound to trip up a little along the way.  How about this for a stretch of games…Ohio State, at Oregon State, Oregon and Arizona State.  They could have two losses after their first 6 games.  10-2

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